Inflatable vault

ABSTRACT

A multi-lobed, double-wall inflatable vault includes a plurality of distinct, inflatable hollow beams. Each beam is formed by a single continuous envelope and has four zones including two lateral zones defining webs of the beam and upper and lower zones defining flanges of the beams. The beams are arranged side by side contiguously. Respective confronting webs of two adjacent beams are held opposite each other by respective continuous longitudinal flaps that can be joined by mechanical linking structure. Each flap has a T-shaped transverse cross-sectional configuration including two lateral flanges fastened to the envelope of the respective beam and a central tongue to be linked by the linking structure to the tongue of the flap of the adjacent beam.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The subject of the present invention is a multi-lobed, double-wallinflatable vault, only the volume of air included between the two wallsof which is pressurized, thus leaving the space which the vault coversat ambient pressure.

Generally, such an inflatable vault comprises a plurality oflongitudinal beams arranged side by side, means of sliding at least onelongitudinal end of each of the beams along at least one deployment orfolding path and means for supplying the beams with inflation fluid.

This type of vault is designed in order, inter alia, to permit itsdeployment by means of simple inflation, as well as its retraction bydeflation, which makes it possible, as desired, to cover a space for thepurpose of protecting it from bad weather and for uncovering it in fineweather.

Such a vault may be used for temporarily covering large-sizeinstallations, such as stadia with stands for spectators. Such a vaultrepresents an enormous surface area of fabric, weighing from 50 to 100tonnes, which is impossible to produce in a factory, to transport and toinstall as a single completely finished assembly. However, if the vaultis produced as several elements, it is advisable, on the one hand, forsuch elements to be totally completed, tested in the factory,particularly to check their leaktightness, and, on the other hand, forthe assembly of such elements together to be easy, rapid and to requireno costly site equipment.

Vaults of this type are already known, in which deployment andretraction can be produced by means of simple inflation and deflation,in which only the space between the two walls is pressurized and whichare described, particularly, in patents FR-A-2,166,397 andFR-A-2,326,544.

Patent FR-A-2,166,397 relates to an inflatable structure including asuccession of inflatable box structures which bear on one another whenthey are inflated and which are placed between two sheets to which theyare fastened, such sheets being stretched by the box structures oninflation of the structure. Given the design of this structure, itcannot be applied to large-size constructions which is one of theobjectives which the present invention proposes to achieve.

Patent FR-A-2,326,544 relates to an inflatable flexible structureconsisting of a nave with at least two walls, which can be deployed andfolded or retracted, composed of a series of contiguous chambers whichcan be flattened and pressurized, the dividing walls of which spaceapart outer and inner, and, optionally median, walls of the nave. Themultiple elements making up the vault are thus simple elementary panelsof leaktight fabric which must be assembled on site in order to producecontinuous links which are both strong and leaktight over great lengths.This requires very precise manufacturing tolerances and considerableinvolved assembly operations on site, which does not guarantee the totalreliability of the product obtained.

An inflatable vault is also known from patent FR-A-2,621,944, in whicheach beam includes two opposite panels forming flanges and eachconstituting one of the lobes of inner or outer wall of the vault andtwo lateral panels forming webs of the beam.

Equivalent panels of adjacent beams are connected together with the aidof discontinuous mechanical linking means comprising, on the one hand, aseries of flaps extending the panels of each beam along at least one oftheir longitudinal edges and, on the other hand, a plurality of profiledsections slipped one behind the other, simultaneously from one end tothe other of each of the flaps to be joined.

Such linking means pose problems owing to the fact that each beam iscomposed of at least two independent panels, the corresponding flaps ofwhich must be inserted in the profiled sections at the same time as theflaps of the panels of the adjacent beam, and this has to be done overthe entire length of the beams.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to remedy these drawbacks, the object of the present inventionis to provide an inflatable vault in which the assembly of inflatablehollow beams thereof is facilitated.

To this end, the subject of the present invention is a multi-lobed,double-wall inflatable vault, which can be deployed and retractedconfining between its walls a layer of air under pressure and composedof a plurality of distinct, inflatable hollow beams arranged side byside. Each beam includes four zones, i.e. two lateral zones of whichform webs and two zones, respectively lower and upper zones, which formflanges of the beam. Each beam is formed by a single continuous envelopeensuring the continuity of the leaktightness of the volume which itconfines. Equivalent webs of each two contiguous beams are held oppositeeach other by continuous longitudinal flaps are fastened on theenvelopes of each of such beams between the webs and the flangesthereof. Mechanical means links the equivalent flaps of the contiguoustwo beams.

According to further characteristics of the invention:

each continuous flap is formed by a T-shaped profiled section, twoflanges of which are fastened on the envelope of each beam and a centraltongue of which is intended to receive the mechanical linking means,

the profiled section is formed by the folding of at least one strip ofcoated fabric,

the mechanical linking means comprise:

eyelet holes which are uniformly spaced and arranged opposite oneanother on the tongues of two equivalent flaps of two contiguous beams,

continuous filler strips trapped along the free edge of thecorresponding tongue,

at least one continuous link slipped successively from top to bottom andfrom bottom to top in the pairs of eyelet holes arranged opposite oneanother of the tongues of two equivalent flaps,

the mechanical linking means are formed by slide closures eachcomprising two half-parts attaching to each other or detaching from eachother on passage of a slider, each half-part being fastened on thetongue of one of the two equivalent flaps of two contiguous beams,

each tongue of the flaps is formed from two parallel lips between whichis fastened a band supporting one of the two half-parts of thecorresponding slide closure,

the webs and the flanges forming the continuous envelope of each beamare formed by intersecting surfaces, the flaps being fastened along andon either side of the intersections of such surfaces,

the webs and the flanges forming the envelope of each beam are formed bymutually tangential surfaces, the flaps being fastened along tangentlines of such surfaces,

the flaps located on one and the same side of each beam are continuousand form a loop at each end of the beam.

According to further characteristics of the invention:

the inflatable vault comprises movable bearing fittings, arrangedbetween the ends of two contiguous beams and connected to the flaps ofsuch two contiguous beams, at the level of the end loops of such flaps,by fastening means. The bearing fittings interact with a fixed baseequipped with guide means, the profile of which determines a deploymentand folding path of each of such beams,

the fastening means are formed by bolted small bars gripping the tongueof two contiguous flaps.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be better understood from the followingdetailed description, given by way of example with reference to theappended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic overall view of a vault according to theinvention, in a section according to a plane parallel to the directionof its deployment,

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view in section of a vault portion according toa first embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view in section of a vault portion according toa second embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 4 is a view in section of a first embodiment of mechanical meansfor linking two contiguous beams,

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the mechanical linking means of FIG. 4,

FIG. 6 is a view in section along line 6--6 in FIG. 5,

FIG. 7 is a view in section of a second embodiment of mechanical meansfor linking two contiguous beams,

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic view of one end of a beam of the vaultaccording to the invention, and

FIG. 9 is a view in section of means for fastening bearing fittings ontwo contiguous beams.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In FIG. 1, a multi-lobed, double-wall inflatable vault, which can bedeployed and retracted, has been shown diagrammatically, denoted overallby the reference 1.

This vault 1 confines, between its walls, a volume of air under pressureand is composed of a plurality of distinct and leaktight inflatablehollow beams, A, B, C . . . M, N which are arranged side by side.

Each beam A, B, C, . . . consists of a continuous envelope 2 ensuringcontinuity of the leaktightness of the volume which it confines and iscomposed of four zones, two lateral zones of which form webs 3 and 4 andtwo zones, respectively an upper zone and a lower zone, of which formthe flanges 5 and 6 of each beam.

According to a first embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the webs 3 and 4 andthe flanges 5 and 6 forming the continuous envelope 2 of each beam A, B,C, . . . are formed by surfaces which intersect at four intersections 7.

According to a second embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the webs 3 and 4 andthe flanges 5 and 6 forming the continuous envelope 2 of each beam A, B,C, . . . are formed by mutually tangential surfaces.

The equivalent webs 3 and 4 of two contiguous beams A, B, C, . . . areheld opposite each other by continuous and longitudinal flaps 10fastened on the envelope 2 of each beam and including mechanical meansor structure for linking with the equivalent flap 10 of the contiguousbeam.

In the case in which the webs 3 and 4 and the flanges 5 and 6 of eachbeam A, B, C, . . . are intersecting, a flap 10 is fastened along eachintersection 7 (FIG. 2).

In the case in which the webs 3 and 4 and the flanges 5 and 6 of eachbeam A, B, C, . . . are tangential, a flap 10 is fastened along thetangent lines of the webs 3 and 4 and of the flanges 5 and 6 (FIG. 3).

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, each flap 10 which is continuous, is formed bya T-shaped profiled section, i.e. transverse cross-sectionalconfiguration, two flanges 11 and 12 of which are fastened on theenvelope 2 of each beam A, B, C, . . . and a central tongue 13 of whichis intended to receive the mechanical linking means.

The profiled section is formed, for example, by the folding of at leastone strip of coated fabric.

By referring, now, to FIGS. 4 to 6, a description will be given of afirst embodiment of the mechanical means or structure for linking twocontiguous beams.

These mechanical linking means comprise, on the one hand, crimped,metallic eyelet holes 15 which are uniformly spaced and arrangedopposite one another on the tongues 13 of the equivalent flaps 10 of thecontiguous beams A, B, C, . . . , and, on the other hand, continuousfiller strips 16 trapped in a hem formed by the free edge of each tongue13.

The link of two contiguous flaps 10 and, consequently, of the beamstogether is produced by a continuous link 17 such as, for example, acable or a lace slipped successively from top to bottom and from bottomto top in the pairs of eyelet holes 15 arranged opposite one another ofthe tongues 13 of two equivalent flaps 10.

By referring, now, to FIG. 7, a description will be given of a secondembodiment of the mechanical means for linking two contiguous beams.

In this case, the mechanical means for linking two contiguous flaps 10are formed by a slide closure 20.

Each slide closure 20 is composed of two half-parts 21 and 22 attachingto each other or detaching from each other on passage of a slider whichis not shown.

Each half-part 21 and 22 of the slide closure 20 is fastened on thetongue 13 of a respective flap 10 by means of a continuous band,respectively 23 and 24, supporting the corresponding half-parts 21 or22.

In order to improve the leaktightness and to protect the slide closure20, each tongue 13 of the flaps 10 is formed from two parallel lips 13aand 13b between which is fastened the band 23 or 24 supporting one ofthe two half-part 21 or 22 of the corresponding slide closure 20, thelip 13a of one of the tongues 13 straddling the lip 13a of the othertongue 13.

The flap 10 located on one and the same side of each beam A, B, C, . . .is continuous and forms a loop 30 at each end of such beam, as shown inFIG. 8.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the vault I according to the presentinvention comprises movable bearing fittings 31, arranged between theends of two contiguous beams, for example beams A and B, and connectedby fastening means 32 to the flaps 10 of such two contiguous beams atthe level of the end loops 30 of the flaps 10 thereof.

The fittings 31 interact with a fixed base 33 equipped with guide means34, the profile of which determines a deployment and folding path ofeach of the beams A, B, C, . . . . The fastening means 32 of thefittings 31 with the contiguous tongues 13 of two flaps 10 are formed bytwo longitudinal small bars 35 each gripping, by means of bolts 36, atongue 13 against the corresponding fitting 31. Each small bar 35 bearson the filler strip 16 of the tongue 13.

The advantages of the present invention result essentially from thepossibility which it offers of producing vaults of very largedimensions, composed of a plurality of component elements which are easyto manufacture, easy to transport and to assemble with no specialtooling, directly on site, and which may be erected or retracted veryrapidly.

The inflatable vault according to the present invention applies to theproduction of a roof for stadia, swimming pools, tennis courts, sportshalls, restaurants, theatres, exhibition halls or shops, diverseinstallations, leisure parks, conference halls or large-size storagesheds.

It is particularly adapted to the protection against bad weather ofplaces frequented by the public and which it is desired, nevertheless,to uncover in fine weather, but it may also apply to permanently roofedinstallations.

I claim:
 1. A multi-lobed, double-wall inflatable vault that can bedeployed and retracted and that can confine between walls thereof alayer of air under pressure, said vault comprising:a plurality ofdistinct, inflatable hollow beams;each said beam being formed by asingle continuous envelope ensuring continuity of leaktightness of avolume confined thereby, and each said beam having four zones includingtwo lateral zones defining webs of said beam and upper and lower zonesdefining flanges of said beam; said beams being arranged side by sidecontiguously; respective confronting webs of two adjacent said beamsbeing held opposite each other by respective continuous longitudinalflaps to be joined by mechanical linking structure; andeach said flaphaving a T-shaped transverse cross-sectional configuration including twolateral flanges fastened to said envelope of the respective said beamand a central tongue to be linked by the linking structure to the tongueof said flap of said adjacent beam.
 2. A vault as claimed in claim 1,further comprising said linking structure linking together said tongues.3. A vault as claimed in claim 2, wherein said linking structurecomprises eyelet holes spaced longitudinally of each of said tongues,and a continuous link successively threaded through aligned said eyeletholes of said tongues.
 4. A vault as claimed in claim 3, furthercomprising continuous filler strips trapped along free edges of saidtongues.
 5. A vault as claimed in claim 3, wherein said continuous linkcomprises a cable.
 6. A vault as claimed in claim 2, wherein saidlinking structure comprises a slide closure including two half-partsattachable to and detachable from each other by a slider, each saidhalf-part being fastened to a respective said tongue.
 7. A vault asclaimed in claim 6, wherein each said tongue is formed by two parallellips, and each said half-part is supported between said lips of therespective said tongue.
 8. A vault as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidflap comprises at least one folded strip of coated fabric.
 9. A vault asclaimed in claim 1, wherein said webs and said flanges of each said beamare formed by respective surfaces of said envelope thereof, adjacentsaid surfaces intersecting along intersections, and said flaps of saidadjacent beams are fastened to the respective said envelopes along saidintersections.
 10. A vault as claimed in claim 1, wherein said webs andsaid flanges of each said beam are formed by surfaces of said envelopethereof that merge tangentially at tangent lines, and said flaps of saidadjacent beams are fastened to the respective said envelopes along saidtangent lines.
 11. A vault as claimed in claim 1, wherein a side of eachsaid beam has at opposite edges thereof respective said flaps that arecontinuous and joined to form a loop at each end of said beam.
 12. Avault as claimed in claim 11, further comprising movable bearingfittings arranged between ends of two adjacent said beams and connectedto said flaps thereof at said loops thereof by a fastening device, saidfittings being movable along a guide on a fixed base and defining a pathof deployment and retraction of said beams.
 13. A vault as claimed inclaim 12, wherein said fastening device comprises bolted small barsgripping said tongues of said flaps of said two adjacent beams.
 14. Avault as claimed in claim 1, further comprising movable bearing fittingsarranged between ends of two adjacent said beams and connected to saidflaps thereof by a fastening device, said fittings being movable along aguide on a fixed base and defining a path of deployment and retractionof said beams.
 15. A vault as claimed in claim 14, wherein saidfastening device comprises bolted small bars gripping said tongues ofsaid flaps of said two adjacent beams.